I Became the Teacher of the Imperial Family’s Bastard

024. Fiancé (3)

A day had passed.

Beatrice moved quickly, feeling an inexplicable tightness in her chest.

Yuren’s words had become a wedge lodged in Beatrice’s heart.

She had to pull it out, and as far as Beatrice knew, there was only one way to do that.

“Ah, Bay!”

She was in the park.

Pastel-toned light pink hair, round eyes, and within them, a deep green light.

Everything about her seemed to embody tranquility as she smiled at Beatrice.

A smile appeared on Beatrice’s lips.

If anyone saw her, they would be surprised that she, often called the most perfect ice sculpture, could smile. This was a fact she herself acknowledged. Until now, no one in the world had been able to make Beatrice smile.

Beatrice’s steps quickened on their own. Soon, standing before Rebecca, she spoke in a voice full of joy.

“I’m sorry. I’m late, aren’t I?”

In fact, she had arrived on time. But since she arrived after Rebecca, she was indeed late.

The suffocating frustration disappeared. When she held Rebecca’s hand, it felt as if petals filled the scar left by the removed thorn, healing it. Only at that moment could Beatrice completely deny Yuren’s words.

―I don’t care if you enjoy the company of women, but you should have had better judgment.

No, it wasn’t. This was not a s*xual feeling or lust. It was a relationship that provided complete mental fulfillment, a goodwill between human beings. In other words, Rebecca was her only friend.

“Bay, did you finish your work? You said you had a spell to present at the Founding Festival!”

She chirped like a lark, asking about her work. Beatrice responded with a fresh smile.

“Yes, it’s going smoothly. We’re almost ready.”

“That’s a relief. Ah, but don’t overdo it! I’m worried because Bei has a strong desire for achievement. You’re not overdoing it again, are you?”

Beatrice felt a tingling sensation in her chest.

Ah, this was it.

She liked that someone cared about her health, not just her achievements.

It was special that someone looked at her as a person, unlike anyone else.

Rebecca would comfort her even if she failed.

Those round eyes would be filled with concern as she hugged her.

And she would say,

―It’s okay. It’s okay if you can’t do it. I’m here with you. You can cry now.

Just like the day they first met, she would affirm her.

Family? The Tower? Betrothal?

None of it mattered.

Those things only stood in the way of meeting Rebecca.

Thinking that way, Beatrice was no longer afraid of anything.

As long as she had Rebecca’s smile, she felt she could live forever.

At that moment,

Beatrice’s fingertips trembled.

Rebecca tilted her head.

“What’s wrong?”

“…A necklace I’ve never seen before.”

“Oh! This?”

Rebecca laughed carelessly.

“The Saint gave it to me! It’s a necklace that helps you sleep well! Hehe… I’m not sure about its effect, but it’s so pretty that I wear it. Isn’t it?!”

She showed off the necklace and asked for an opinion.

Thump, Beatrice’s heart tightened.

She tried to smile, but it couldn’t be as bright as before.

Such words rose to the tip of her throat.

‘No. Don’t get close to that man.’

But the words didn’t come out.

She was afraid of being hated for trying to force Rebecca’s actions.

But she couldn’t control her emotions.

Several faces flashed by.

The Saint, the Grand Duke, and the Master of Shadows.

They were harmful to Rebecca.

They didn’t purely adore Rebecca like she did, but aimed for her body.

They were worms who always thought of tying Rebecca down.

Beatrice wished Rebecca would stay away from them.

Even if she kept them by her side, she hoped she wouldn’t give them a glance.

Beatrice thought.

She wished all the time, heart, words, and glances that Rebecca spent on them would be directed at her.

This was clearly a possessive desire.

Beatrice was afraid of the moment Rebecca might come to love them as a man.

The moment they were bound in a lover’s relationship, the time and effort Rebecca poured into her would diminish, and her priorities would be pushed aside.

Her heart pounded.

Her unfocused eyes were filled solely with Rebecca.

Desperately, as if she intended to imprison her within them.

It was at that moment.

“Bay, what’s wrong? You don’t look well.”

Rebecca placed her hand on Beatrice’s cheek, her eyebrows furrowing.

Beatrice felt warmth spreading from her cheek.

Fullness returned once more.

The body’s activities, which had deviated from their normal course, soon returned.

She placed her hand over Rebecca’s.

With rising relief, Beatrice smiled.

“No, I just had something to think about for a moment.”

At that moment, Beatrice solidified her wavering resolve.

―Stop doing stupid things. It’s a hassle to clean up afterward.

Don’t be ridiculous.

It’s not a stupid thing.

This is something that must be done.

Because Rebecca knows nothing.

Because they don’t know what’s truly important.

So,

‘I…’

I had to protect and inform.

Let’s proceed with the task.

‘I must have Rebecca.’

Otherwise, it was clear I wouldn’t be able to live.

* * *

“Pharos, Pharos. Are you dead~?”

“Yes…”

Aria poked me as I lay sprawled on the bed.

Even that small shock made my insides churn.

Why hasn’t this damn rebound healed yet?

Just when I think I’m getting better, the muscle pain and nausea refuse to go away.

…Well, what’s the point of blaming others?

It’s because I didn’t conduct myself properly.

I should have just stayed quietly and recuperated, but I foolishly went out and messed around.

Using mana to hit the crown prince was the first cause.

My already messed-up insides turned over again.

In that state, I met Beatrice.

To create a sense of intimidation, I unleashed my mana, stuffing my upset stomach with greasy food, as the chef thought.

So, both my body and mind are in tatters.

The unfair part is that I had no other choice.

‘The Crown Prince’s matter is one thing, but that woman…’

Thinking of Beatrice makes me click my tongue.

It was clear as day that he was completely infatuated with that commoner girl.

He could endure insults to himself, but couldn’t stand any slander against her, which was particularly annoying.

Thus, I created an atmosphere of intimidation.

In my heart, I wanted to overturn the situation and press him about the demon summoning, but there was one reason I couldn’t act immediately.

‘I need to know when the demon summoning will happen.’

Think about it.

Even if I know the future, telling him ‘I know everything you’re going to do’ about something that hasn’t even started or maybe hasn’t even crossed his mind yet would just make me look crazy.

Moreover, I’d probably be labeled a scoundrel for linking a promising mage tower candidate with demon summoning.

It gets even more complicated in the political realm.

Demons are the ultimate taboo.

Just mentioning them is considered a blasphemy, given the incidents throughout human history since its inception.

Stirring up a hornet’s nest could backfire on me.

It’s foolish to provoke her over something that hasn’t even happened.

For that reason, I just broke off the engagement.

I conveyed a warning, without specifying the subject, to keep an eye on her actions once more.

“Ah, breaking off the engagement makes me angry again.”

The day I told her about the broken engagement, I remembered my sister’s sullen face.

―If it’s the young master’s choice, I respect it. Finding a lifelong companion is something that requires caution. I will see if there is a good person. Do you have any specific preferences?

As she spoke, my sister’s head sank a little lower than usual, and her shoulders drooped.

Can you understand how sorry I felt, to the point where my face was unnecessarily hot?

Anyway, that was the end of that day’s conversation.

Today, I tried to focus on recuperating…

“Pharos~.”

This damn kid is bothering me again today.

“…I’m sick.”

“Yes, Pharos looks sick…”

Is she understanding?

I glanced at Aria’s complexion and realized I was wrong.

“Do you know, Pharos? When you’re sick, you have to eat a cheeseburger to get better quickly…!”

Aria continued to explain while cautiously watching my reaction.

“Listen. When you’re sick, you need to feel better to recover quickly! And to feel better, you need to eat something delicious… gulp, cheeseburgers are the most delicious food in the world, so they are the best medicine! So you have to make and eat a cheeseburger to get better!”

A hollow laugh escaped me.

It just looks like he’s making a forced argument because he wants to eat.

It becomes more apparent when you see him swallowing his saliva while talking.

He wants to eat the burger, and in the meantime, he has to pretend to be worried.

This not-so-clever kid seemed to be living a very busy life.

I want to make it for him because his effort is commendable… but today, I really don’t feel like moving.

I asked for help.

“Your Highness, the First Princess.”

When I turned my gaze, Erilda, who was sitting at my desk looking at documents, raised her head indifferently.

As I mentioned before, she is here with me under the pretext of taking care of Aria.

“Why?”

“I think it’s time to send Her Highness, the Third Princess, back.”

“Sorry, but I haven’t finished looking at the documents yet.”

“I don’t think I’m a nanny.”

“Just make one. The kid likes it so much.”

The moment I heard those words, I realized.

‘They’re in cahoots.’

There is an old saying.

Be most wary of those who speak as if they are beyond any desire for money, power, or any other ambition.

That wretched human was clearly planning to use Aria as a shield to eat the burger himself.

…What can I do?

To prevent things from getting noisier, I have no choice but to send these people away quickly.

“…Yes, yes. I’ll make it for you.”

Groaning, as she lifted her body, only then did Aria’s face brighten.

“Th-that’s right! Let’s eat the burger quickly so all the pain, all the pain flies away!”

“Is it good?”

“Yes!”

Aria hopped down from the bed.

Erilda also got up from her seat with a creak.

As she squinted at Erilda, the expression that came back was ‘What do you want me to do about it?’

‘My fate.’

It was the moment she lowered her head.

As she stood up, she finally saw the documents on the desk and asked.

“…But what are those documents? Are they related to the founding festival?”

It seemed to be related to some goods, as it was full of pictures.

Thinking she might get one from the crown prince if it was a tribute, she brought it up, and that was the answer she got.

“Yes, it’s the item list for the grand auction.”

Suddenly, her body froze.

‘Ah, the grand auction.’

A nostalgic echo.

The Grand Auction is the largest auction in the empire, hosted by the royal family during the Founding Festival.

The items up for auction include relics, artifacts, and various treasures of historical value.

Each one holds astronomical value, things that cannot be bought even with money, but are sold on that one day of the auction.

‘I used to buy a lot of liquor here in the past.’

I remember buying liquors of immense value and drinking them straight from the bottle.

Why did I waste money like that when I didn’t even know the taste back then?

“Hmm…”

“Why? Are you interested?”

“No, just a bit.”

Come to think of it, I haven’t had a drink since the first day after my return.

But if it’s high-quality liquor from the Grand Auction, it wouldn’t be bad to buy one and sip it occasionally.

I asked out of curiosity.

“Can I take a look at the catalog for a moment?”

“Yes, it’s not a secret or anything.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“Pharos, what about the cheeseburger?”

“Please wait.”

“Hmm…”

I flipped through the catalog.

It was at that moment.

My eyes widened.

“…Huh?”

“Hmm? That page is for relics. There’s nothing good this time. Just a few accessories without any abilities. I recommend looking at the artifacts instead. There are some good ones this time.”

What nonsense is this?

The artifact is unsatisfactory?

‘This is an ancient artifact.’

My gaze was fixed on one accessory.

[Necklace/Source Unknown]

A necklace with two silver curves intertwining and locking together.

Not only was its shape unique, but its effect was also exceptional, so there was no mistake.

I had seen this before.

It was the necklace my subordinate had before my regression.

―Ah, this? It’s a necklace my father gave me as a gift. I didn’t know it at the time, but it’s an incredible item.

The effect of that necklace is simple.

―If you infuse it with mana, it converts it into the body’s healing power. It’s perfect for curing hangovers.

Converting mana into healing power.

In other words, that’s what it meant.

‘…Found it.’

A way to heal the body.

End

ⓒ papapa.

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